SERIE A
Juventus winger Chiesa facing knee ligament surgery
In a huge blow to Juventus' season, it was confirmed on Monday that winger Federico Chiesa requires an operation on a ruptured cruciate ligament.
Juventus winger Federico Chiesa will undergo surgery later this week after suffering an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The Italy international picked up the injury to his knee in Sunday's thrilling 3-4 Serie A victory over José Mourinho's Roma.
The winger suffered what Juve described as "a blunt trauma sprain" to his left knee, which left him requiring crutches to attend the club's medical centre on Monday.
"The diagnostic tests performed this morning at J|Medical revealed an injury of the anterior cruciate ligament," a statement issued by Juventus on Monday read. "It will be necessary for the player to undergo surgery in the next few days."
Chiesa's season is over
Chiesa is likely to miss the rest of the season in what is a huge blow to Massimiliano Allegri's side. The Bianconeri, who face Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday, are 11 points off the league-leading champions and three outside the top four. They continue their Coppa Italia defence against Sampdoria next week, while their Champions League Last 16 tie with Villarreal on the horizon in mid-February.
Chiesa's injury is also a significant blow for Italy's ambitions of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The European champions face North Macedonia in the play-off semi-finals in March and will then meet either Turkey or Portugal for a place in Qatar.
Chiesa has four goals and two assists in 18 appearances for Juve in all competitions this season, his dynamic displays with the ball at his feet often a notable bright spot in a difficult campaign for Allegri. He has the most overall take-ons (68) and take-ons in the opponents' half (51) of any Juve player this term, while his average carry progress of 7.8 metres per attempt is the best of anyone in the squad to make more than one appearance.
In total, 23 of his carries (where a player moves five metres or more with the ball) have ended in either a shot or a chance created. Among Juve players, only Álvaro Morata, who has played seven more matches, can better that figure (28).